This John Blake is theorized by some to be an
immigrant. One source states John Blake who died 1700, sailed from England on
the ship “Resolution” with son John Jr. to Massachusetts. This source cannot
be confirmed. Another source believes this John Blake (~1640) belonged to different
John Blake, also born ~1640, died 1688/89, lived in Dorchester, and left a
will. Dorchester’s John Blake belonged to the William Blake line, as noted:

1st generation: William Blake (~1594 England
– 1663 Dorchester, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts), A number of James Blakes
descend from this line as noted at the end of this chapter.

2nd generation: John (Thorne -?) Blake (~1618
England – 1688/89 Dorchester, Massachusetts and has a Dorchester will. Will
mentions no children and some think he probably had none.

Earliest Records
for our Subject - John Blake (~1640 to 1700)

John Blake became a co-executor in a 1679 Indian
Will for John Wampers which stated Blake was from Plymouth (Colony) in New
England. Later in 1686 when Wamper’s lands were divided, a 1686 deed noted
John Blake living in Wrentham and was formerly from Sandwich. The town of
Sandwich in Plymouth Colony was founded in 1637 and is Cape Cod’s oldest town.

Details for John
and Bridget Blake

1679
September 5 - England: (Abstracted) Will of John White, alias Wampers, late of
Boston in New England, mariner, 5 September 1679, proved 1 October 1679. I do
give, devise and bequeath unto my very loving kinsman John a Wonsmock,
Pomhamell and Norwarunnt all my estate lying and being in New England, commonly
called or known by the name of Assenham East-stock…. I give to George Owen of
St. Alhallowes the Wall in London, Chirurgeon, 400 acres of my land situate in
Bedford in New England…. I gave to my friends Edward Pratt of St. Paul,
Shadwell, Middlesex, victualler, and John Blake of Plymouth in New England,
husbandman, the rest and remainder of my lands, tenements, plantations,
grounds, etc (no details)…and make them joint executors. Proved by the oath of
John Blake, on the executors named in the will….

1685: John
was fined for selling rum, powder, and bullets to the Indians.

1686 August
25 – Wrentham, Suffolk County, Massachusetts: Cutter states: “John Blake, the
immigrant ancestor…settled at Wrentham, a town formerly part of Dedham, a town
adjacent to…Boston and Dorchester. About all that is known of him is from a
deed (Suffolk 16/89) in which John Blake, now of Wrentham formerly of Sandwich,
Massachusetts, in 1686 with Edward Pratt and others divided lands previously
bought of John Wanpumn (Wampers), alias White, an Indian of Assanuesock, then
deceased.”

New England
Families by William Richard Cutter, 1913, page 523.

1686
Wrentham: John Blake is reported to be a Selectman for Wrentham.

1688 – 1691 Wrentham,
Suffolk County: John Blake is on the tax lists for 1688 through 1691. In
1689 a trial convicted John and John Jr. on an assault on Ebenezer Littlefield.

Children of John
Blake “I” and Bridget __ are probably:

2nd
Generation Blakes are listed as (I), (II), (III), etc.

3rd
Generation Blakes are listed as (1), (2), (3), etc.

I.
Isaac Blake, born 1660 and died 8 March 1689 at Wrentham ^, was old
enough to possibly be married.

II.
Andrew Blake, born 1661 at Wrentham and married 14 August 1696 at
Wrentham Sarah Stevens. ^ Andrew died 2 June 1755 at Norfolk, Mass. at the age
of 94. ^ Sarah, wife of Isaac Blake, died 29 October 1732. ^ Children of
Andrew Blake + Sarah Stevens, born per Wrentham Vital Records:

^ Wrentham
Vital Records, birth, marriage, death.

1. Isaac
Blake (11 May 1697)

2. Sarah
Blake (21 January 1699/1700)

3. Mary Blake
(22 May 1702)

4. Andrew
Blake (7 August 1704)

5. Stephen
Blake (11 March 1706/07)

6. Comfort
Blake (27 February 1708/09)

7. Joseph
Blake (13 August 1711)

8. Phebe
Blake (30 October 1713)

9. Submit
Blake (22 July 1718)

III. Captain Robert Blake (~1676 Wrentham to 4
October 1735 Wrentham ^) married Sarah Guild in 7 January 1702/03 at Wrentham.
^

^ Wrentham
Vital Records, birth, marriage, death.

Robert Blake’s farm was on the east
side of Blake’s Pond on Crown Hill. Sarah Guild was the daughter of John Guild
and married 2nd to Nathaniel Perry. She died 30 July 1757. Title
of “Captain” was reported on his gravestone.*

** Legislators
of the Massachusetts General County, 1691-1780: A Biographical Dictionary by
John A. Schutz,"

Children of Robert
Blake + Sarah Guild

per Wrentham Vital
Record, which includes parents names

1. Bette Blake (21 July 1703)

2. Sarah Blake (18 August 1705)

3. Robert Blake (22 December 1707)

4. Josiah Blake (4 March 1709/10)

5. Nathan Blake (13 March 1711/12)

6. Ezra Blake (4 May 1714)

7. Hephzibah Blake (8 October 1716)

8. Obadiah Blake (9 June 1719)

9. Ester Blake (23 July 1721)

10. Elijah Blake (13 October 1723)

*IV.
John Blake “II” was born about 1663, possibly in Wrentham, Suffolk
County (became Norfolk County in 1793) and died 1728. John Blake “II” married
6 February 1689 Wrentham to Joan Whiting. ^ Joanna Whiting was born 26
September 1665 in Dedham, Massachusetts and died 10 October 1739 at Wrentham,
Massachusetts.^ Her parents were Nathaniel Whiting “II” (1644 to ?) and
Joanna Gay (1645 to 1708)

^ Wrentham Vital
Records, birth, marriage, death.

John Blake “II” was noted in Wrentham in 1710; was
a selectman 1694, 1699, 1708. He was a farmer and is reported to have a will.
John Blake and Joanna Whiting had 10 children; farmer, and had a will. **

** Legislators
of the Massachusetts General County, 1691-1780," found at
NewEnglandAncestors.org

John Blake “II” died before his last child was born and
at about the same time as his mother (???) which may suggest an infectious
epidemic, such as measles, smallpox, or flu.

1714 November
18 – Suffolk County, Massachusetts (Abstract): John Blake of Wrentham, Suffolk
County, Massachusetts Bay, New England, Planter, for consideration of the good
will which I bear to my son James Blake, viz: (!) four acres of land for a
house lott only excepting a convenience way to his mill as it lyeth on the west
side of the road bounded on Stoney Brook north, Common Land west. (2) Thirty
six acres on the east side of the road bounded on Stoney Brook in part north,
and bounded on yet land above John Blake south; Common Land in part east,
chiccre in part north. (3) Twenty acres of land with meadow which lies down
stream on Stoney Brook bound on the land with Meadow Gay’s south west, and with
ye brook south east, and on the land with meadow of Anthony Hancock north
east. All the lands lie situated in the town of Wrentham. 18 November 1714.
(Signed) John Blake (seal). Witnesses: Steaser Metcalfe, Bridget Blake, John
“x” Downs. Entered 1 January 1714/15 (DB29/26)

1714/15
January 6 – Suffolk County, Massachusetts: John Blake of Wrentham, Suffolk
County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, New England, Husbandman and Joanna his
wife deeded to Andrew Belcher, Addington Davenport, Thomas Hutchinson, Esq.,
John White, and Edward Hutchinson, Gent., trustees named and empowered by the
General Court or Assembly, held at Boston 20 October last, instituted in an act
for the making and __ sum of 50,000 pounds, in bills of credit on this Province
in such manner…witness that the said John Blake and wife Joanna…for 100 pounds
credit on Massachusetts Bay…the said John Blake’s…messuage tenement or dwelling
house and barn, and all…with its tract of land lying in Wrentham containing
about 200 acres…lying bounded southwest by the land of the heirs of Thomas
Thurston, deceased; northwest by the land of Samuel Swisher(?); northeast by
the land of James Blake, with all other parts lying in the Common, the highway
or road going through the said land. …John Blake, the mortgager to be paid
with interest. 5 June 1724. Received of John Blake by the hand of his son
James Blake, 25 pounds, eight shillings, 6 pence. (DB29/25)

* Births/Deaths are
recorded on Wrentham Vital Records with parent’s names

1. Anna
Blake (7 October 1691, twin8)*

2. Bridget
Blake (27 March 1693)*

3. John
Blake “III” (22 July 1694* to 24 December 1722*)

4. Mary
Blake (8 April 1696*)

5. Abigail/Abigaell
Blake (30 July 1698*)

6. Hannah
Blake (15 March 1700*)

7. Dinah
Blake (15 September 1701*)

8. Margaret
Blake (15 June, 1704* to 1704?*)

9. Amiable/Annabel
Blake (15 October 1706*)

10. Major James Blake (7 October 1689 at Wrentham,
Suffolk County (now Norfolk County), Massachusetts and died 12 January 1765 at
Wrentham. Wrentham records show he was married in Dedham on 15 December 1714
as James Blake of Wrentham and Ann Bullard of Dorchester. Ann, widow of James
Blake, Esq, died 16 December 1767. ^ Ann’s parents were Samuel Bullard (1659
to ?) and Hannah Thorp (1665 to ?). Do not confuse with multiple Dorchester
James Blakes.

^ Wrentham
Vital Records, birth, marriage, death.

James and Ann Blake lived at Wrentham,
Massachusetts. James Blake (1689 to 1765) of Wrentham was noted in Wrentham in
1740, 1742-1744. He was a selectman 1722, 1743-46; moderator 1742-45, 1747;
Captain in 1739 and Major in 1746. He married Ann Bullard (1693-1767) in 1714;
had 11 children, was a farmer, has a will. There were notes, bonds, sawmill,
and one slave. He had two committees in these four legislative years.

** Legislators
of the Massachusetts General County, 1691-1780," found at
NewEnglandAncestors.org

Possibly, this is the same James Blake, Esq. of
Wrentham who married Andrew Blake of Wrentham to Mrs. Dorcas Woodward on Dedham
on 15 December 1714.

Vital Records
of Dedham, Massachusetts 1635-1845, on line at NewEnglandAncestors.org.

1743 May 25
to 1744 April 28: House of Representatives of Massachusetts: Wrentham, County
of Suffolk - Captain James Blake

1744 May 30
to 1745 April 25: House of Representatives of Massachusetts: Wrentham, County
of Suffolk – Major James Blake

Acts and
Resolves, Public and Private of the Province of Massachusetts, by John Henry
Clifford, Alexander Strong Sheeler, and William Cross Williamson, 1905, page 236
and 462.

1745 April 23/24
- Suffolk County: Following instructions from the governor, James Blake wrote
a letter to Capt. Baruch Pond, with orders for five armed soldiers from the Wrentham
Military Company under the command of Captain Jonathan Bane (or his designee).

Liveauctioneers.com/item/6206347
– letter was to be auctioned.

Children of James Blake “I” and Ann Bullard,
all born Wrentham:

4th Generation
(i), (ii), (iii), etc - not in birth date order

“*” Births/deaths are
recorded from Wrentham Vital Records which gives parent’s names

i. Ann Blake (4 October 1715* to 27 November 171? *)

ii. John Blake (30 October 1716 to 23 January 1812
at Wrentham, Mass.) Listed as Captain John Blake, son of Captain James Blake,
married on 16 July 1741 (location ?) to Elizabeth Bragg (1719 – 1804). John is
on the muster roll of Wrentham 1778 as Lt. John Blake, Captain Goodale’s
Company.

iii. James Blake “II” (23 March 1717/18)*

iv. Hannah Blake (23 August 1720)*

v. Mary Blake (6 February 1722/3)*

vi. David Blake (25 January 1724/5* to 30 April 1725*)

vii. Margaret Blake (21 May 1728* to 7 July 1736*)

viii. Aaron Blake (24 April 1730*), “son of James and
Ann Blake,” (Wrentham Births) In the Revolutionary War.

*xi. Moses Blake was born 10 May 1726*, possibly at
Wrentham, Suffolk County (now Norfolk County), Massachusetts and died after
1771. His intention of Marriage was 21 October 1752 at Rehoboth, Bristol
County, Massachusetts to Sible Fuller. ^^ ** ^ Sible Fuller was born 1 June
1734 at Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts and died 13 August 1785 at
Providence, Rhode Island * Her parents were Josiah Fuller (1704 to ?) and
Mehitabell Ormsbee (1710 - ?). Moses Blake’s occupation was a
joiner/carpenter.

Locations involved: Wrentham,
Norfolk County, established 1793; Suffolk County, established 1643); Rehoboth,
Bristol County, established 1643 from New Plymouth Colony; Providence City,
Rhode Island. Do NOT confuse with New Hampshire’s Moses Blake.

Overview of Moses
Blake (1726 to <1771)

Moses Blake was a joiner (cabinet and fine wood
worker) had a joiner’s shop in Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

“Moses is said to have served in
the Revolution. Now Mrs. Gurley wrote me in Dodge City, Kansas (about 1945)
that she looked in all the libraries, etc., and could not find where Moses had
shown service. At that time I was going into the D.A.R. but Moses kept me
out. He died during the war, but they decided it was of an illness.”

Letter of
Hope McFarland of Kansas, written in the 1950's.

Details for Moses
Blake

1752 October
21 – Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts: Moses Blake of
"Providence" married Sible Fuller of Rehoboth this date.

Early Vital
Records of Bristol County, Massachusetts to about 1850, 2nd edition, Search –
ReSearch Publishing Corporation.

1752 December
30 – City of Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island: Comfort Wheaton of
Providence, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island sold for 190 pounds a
deed to Moses Blake of same location, house carpenter…a certain lott of land in
said Providence on the west side of the rhoad that leads from the bridge in
said Providence to Pawtuxet…bounded on the northwest side of said road by Mr.
Hllbos house lott. Signed Comfort Wheaton (seal). Witnesses: Elijah Baron,
Joseph Snow. Entered 5 January 1753. (DB13/149)

On
25 June 1756, Moses Blake and wife Sibill Blake, of Rehoboth, Bristol County,
Massachusetts Bay Colony, sold this land (approximately 93 x 50 x 106 x 50
feet) with appurtenences to John Page of Rehoboth, worker in brass. (DB 14/252)

1757
Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts: "A list of those Persons that
were licensed at September Court 1757 (Inholder and Retailer Licenses),
Rehoboth: (includes) Moses Blake.

1759, 1765,
and 1769 Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts: Moses Blake was reported to
show up on Rehoboth "polls"; not confirmed.

From “Consider
the Years of Many Generations, John Blake of Wretham, Massachusetts and Some of
His Descendants," by Kenneth Pond Blake, Jr., 1963

1764 Rhode
Island: Their son - David Blake stated on his 1850 U.S. Census that he was born
in Rhode Island.

1767 April 1-
Bristol County, Massachusetts: Moses Blake of Rehoboth, Bristol County,
Massachusetts Bay, New England deeded to Caleb Fuller of Rehoboth, ferryman, a
strip of land 16 by 8 feet with 2 foot variations being near a place called
Fuller’s Ferry. Signed: Moses Blake and Sibil Blake. Witnessed by Mary Jones,
John __, Jr. Entered 27 November 1777. (DB 58/88)

1781: Kenneth
Pond Blake, Jr. states "in 1781, heirs of Moses Blake appear in a deed so
that he must have died before this."

“Consider the
Years of Many Generations John Blake of Wretham, Massachusetts and Some of His
Descendants," by Kenneth Pond Blake, Jr., 1963

1783 January
17 – Providence, Rhode Island: Daughter Molly Blake (17 April 1762***) married
on 17 January 1783 at the Congregational Church West Side of Providence River,
Providence, Rhode Island to Job Bears, son on Charles Bears*.

1775 August
1: Muster roll dated this date, in Capt. John Perry’s company of Col. Timothy
Walker’s (22d) regiment. Company returns (1) dated 6 October 1775; (2) order
for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Camp at Roxbury, Oct. 26,
1775.

History of
Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Leonard Bliss, 1836/undated reprint.

1776: in
Rhode Island Regimental pay of Captain Hoppin’s Company for the month of
September 1776: Josiah Blake

1777: in
Capt. Loring Lincoln’s Company of Lieut. Col. Flagg’s Regiment.; service, 5
days; marched to Bennington on an alarm in 1777; also Capt. Josiah White’s co.,
Col. Job Cushing’s regiment.; enlisted Sept. 5, 1777; discharged 29 November 1777;
service, 3 months 4 days; enlistment 3 months; company raised to reinforce
Northern army under General Gates. Roll sworn to in Worcester County. He was
a Sergeant by the end of his service.

1781 April 28
– Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island (microfilm over-exposed on left
side and unreadable): Caleb Fuller of Providence, Providence County, Rhode
Island, ye Ferryman, for seven hundred and fifty…(can’t read) deeded to Josiah
Blake of …(can’t read) of Massachusetts Bay Colony...a parcel of land situated
in Rehoboth …(can’t read, but should be Bristol County, Massachusetts)…on road
to Pawtucket that leads to Fuller’s Ferry, about 9 acres adjacent to John
Daggett, excepting a small dwelling house, but includes my Ferry Boat and all
my rights, my tackle…and contains about 1 acres being land belonging to the
town of Rehoboth…. Signed: Caleb Fuller. Witnesses: Obediah Brown, Mary
Peck. Recorded 16 May 1781. (DB 19/342)

Caleb
Fuller is the brother of Sybil Fuller Blake

b. Sarah Blake (3 April 1755***)

c. Hannah Blake (8 October 1757***), not listed in one
source

d. Benjamin Blake (26 March 1760*** to ???) was reported
married to Sarah Appleton on 5 January 1777 at the Trinity Church, Newport,
Rhode Island.* There was a Benjamin Blake who was a private in Colonel
Elliott's Company, Colonel Lippitt's regiment, Rhode Island and was on the
company pay roll September 1776.*

Confusion continues to exist with a
Benjamin Blake (born ~1765 + wife Phebe and 2 children), a Massachusetts
Revolutionary Soldier who settled in Maine and died there 1840.

e. Molly Blake (17 April 1762***), daughter of Moses Blake,
married on 17 January 1783 at Providence. Rhode Island to Job Bears, son on
Charles Bears. Rehoboth Town Record records this marriage 1 September 1781,
both being of Rehoboth. The Rhode Island marriage record is from the
Congregational Church West Side of the (Providence) River, Providence, R.I. -
founded 1720, and states "Molly Blake, of Moses.*. Molly appears to
have married, dated not determined, 2nd to Joshua Tucker (born 15 January
1766).*** The 1790 U.S. Census lists a Molly Bears living in Rehoboth, Bristol
County, Ma. with one white male under 16 years. She is next to Susannah Bears
with a total of 2 free white females.

Children of Joshua Tucker and Molly Blake -
daughter Moses Blake, per Vital Record of Rehoboth ^

i. Lydia Tucker, 25 July 1794

ii. Fanny Tucker, 23 April 1796

iii. Polly Tucker, 22 April 1797

iv. Betsey Tucker, 19 February 1799

v. Joshua Tucker, 27 February 1801

f. David Blake (13 February 1764***) married 3 September
1785 by Rev. John Ellis in Rehoboth to Martha Daggett. Another record states
marriage 23 September 1785. See his write-up chapter.

g. Joseph Blake (17 March 1766 – twin***) married Lois Eddy
on September 23, 1791 at the Congregational Church on the West Side of the
(Providence) River, Providence, Rhode Island.*

(^) Early Vital Records of Bristol County, Massachusetts to
about 1850, 2nd edition, Search – ReSearch Publishing Corporation.

(^^) Vital Records of Rehoboth, Massachusetts 1642-1896.

Other James
Blakes, Thought Not Directly Related

James Blake “I” (1623 – 1700) married
Elizabeth Clap (15 August 1652 and died Dorchester 22 October 1732, aged 80
years. Elizabeth was the daughter of Deacon Edward Clap of Dorchester, born
about 1634 and died January 16, 1693. James Blake “I” was the 2nd
son of William and Agnes Blake, born 1623 in England and died in Dorchester 28
June 1700. James Blake served Dorchester government from 1658 to 1685,
Sergeant in the Military Company, chosen and ordained Deacon of the Church 30
June 1672. His will was dated 26 June 1700; deceased 28 June 1700. His
brothers, all born England were (1) William Blake (1620 – 1703 Milton), (2)
Edward Blake (__ - 1692 Milton), (3) John Blake (__ - 1688 in Boston), (4) Ann
Blake (--) who married Jacob Legare of Boston.

James Blake (1652 – 1732) “II”
married 1st on February 6, 1681 to Hannah Macy, and 2nd on
8 July 1684 to Ruth Batchelder. 1st wife Hannah died 1 June 1683,
aged 23 years. 2nd wife Ruth was born 1662 and died 11 January
1752. James Blake “II” was the eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Clap) Blake,
born 15 August 1652 and he died Dorchester 22 October 1732 at age 80 years. He
was the first one who built and lived at Dorchester Neck on the land granted in
1637 to his grandfather, William Blake.

James Blake “III” (1688 – 1750) married
Wait Simpson (born Boston in 1684 and died in Dorchester 22 May 1753). He was
the eldest son of James and Ruth (Batchelder) Blake. James Blake “III” was
born 30 April 1688 and died 4 December 1750. Dorchester Town records shows
most of his life was devoted to public service. He was a noted land surveyor.

James Blake “IV” (1716 - ) married
on 1 May 1739 to Mary Pinson

Blake Family,
a Genealogical History of William Blake of Dorchester, by Samuel Blake, 1857.